Mobile fire pumper



Oct. 17, 1944. H,- 5. LA BOUR MOBILE FIREVPUMPER Filed Feb. 25, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 1 fizz/en 290/ fiawrg E, ZaBoaw H. E. LA BOUR MOBILE FIRE PUMPER Oct. 17, 1944.

Filed Feb. 25, 1942 V 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 jams/22 07 170/33 F [@3610/ 7 Oct. 17, 1944.

H. E. LA BOUR MOBILE FIRE PUMPER 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 25, 1942 Oct. 17, 1944; H. E. LA BOUR MOBILE FIRE PUMPER F iled Feb. 25, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Db w E r W Kl K Oct. 17, 1944. H. E. LA BOUR MOBILE FIRE PUMPER Fi led Feb. 25, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jams/22%;":

Patented Oct. '17, I 1944 UNITED STATES, PATENT I OFFICE MOBILE FIRE roman Harry E. La. Bout, Elkhart, Ind. Application February 25, 1942, Serial No. 432,314

17 Claims. '(01. 103-87) The present invention relates to fire pumpers,

- and more particularly to the mobile type of fire pumper such as is adapted to be hitched to an automobile and to be drawn thereby to the place of use.

The present invention is an improvement upon the fire pumper disclosed and claimed in my co- The pump must be capable of lifting water to it,

that is to say, it must'be a self-priming centrifugal pump. At the same time it must be adapted as to the strength of its relatively large chambers and as to its packing gland to withstand operating pressurewhen supplied from a fire hydrant.

To be of maximum utility a pumper should be compact, of low total weight and all the parts conveniently arranged for operation by a mini mum number of 0perators,.if necessary, by one man, so that an organized group or brigade is not necessary to call into use the potentialities of. a

motor driven self-priming centrifugal pump having the capability of throwing a stream of water to at least the second story of a building with 'sufficient force to smash glass windows at that height and to throw an effective quantity of water upon the fire.

In the preferred form of unit herein illustrated and disclosed the motor pump unit is capable of lifting water from a lower level .as much as twenty to twenty-five feet, or even more below it,

have the unit arrive in condition for operation, that is, equipped with all the necessary parts for throwing water upon the fire, and capable of performing its intended function.

The pump which is here disclosedis of the selfpriming centrifugal type employing a charge of liquid whereby air from the intake is entrained and discharged through the liquid in the separator to evacuate the suction pipe and to fill the pump with water. Provision is made to maintain the priming charge of liquid in the pump and to allow the pump to prime as soon as the suction hose is connected. and covered with water even though the discharge hose is not ready for action. Further consideration is the convenient placement of the various parts required with ready accesability and yet safety from loss in transit.

The present pumper is well balanced and has a low center of gravity. Asa result the unit may travel at substantially any speedwhich the hauling automobile may attain and over roads which the hauling automobile may encounter; At the same time it is so constructed and organized that it may be wheeled about by hand.

Among the improvements which the present unit embodies in the preferred form of the fire pumper are the following:

The chassis of the unit is provided with a drop frame in front of the axle for mounting the engine within the frame at as low a level as is consistent with road clearance and safety. The engine and pump unit are compactly assembled v without interfering with convenient operation and of throwing one hundred and fifty gallons per minute with the force of water delivered at the pump of one hundred pounds per square inch, or thereabouts.

The present unit is suitable for the protection of farm buildings, small communities, country houses, summer hotels, a group of cottages and the like. It can if necessary be hauled to the fire and put into operation by one man. Specially trained personnel is not essential but is desirable.

A primary consideration in the bringing of such a unit into operation is first the ability to haul it at'high speed hitched to the bumper, or-

to a special hitch if desired, on the rear of any standard make of automobile, and, second, to

and servicing of the necessary parts. The pump and engine are assembled as a unit and have a unique form of mounting on the chassis frame to insure firm mounting of the combined unit on the frame without danger of binding the operating parts of the engine and pump in assembly upon the frame. A discharge hose box is disposed at the rear of the frame and is arranged for the most rapid and convenient running out of the discharge hose to anylength with the limit provided. At the same time the suction hose, which is quite heavy and is cumbersome, is mounted on the forward part of the frame, that is, mostly in front of the axle, so that the two bodies of hose The, present form of unit also provides a new compact form of self-priming centrifugal pump the axle.

suitable for this specific service and also suit- I able for other services. It employs preferably a straight bladed impeller which sweeps the channeland employs the hydraulic balance recirculating principle using a hydraulically balanced throat as per my prior issued Patent No. 1,578,236.

A valuable feature of the present form of pump is the unitary pump body formed preferably as a single casting. It provides three functional chambers, namely, a generally L-shaped inlet trap, a generally cylindrical impeller chamber, and an inverted-L-shaped separator. The trap and separator are separated within the pump body by a generally Z-shaped internal wall forming a part of the structure of the body casting and being common to the two interfitting L- shaped chambers.

The connection and mounting of the motor and pump involves a novel form of bell bracket which sustains the major weight of the unit on a cross member of the chassis frame disposed forward of With the low center of gravity and the main chassis frame disposed at or slightly below the bumper level of the hauling automobile, I have found that the handling of the unit by hand can be greatly improved by disposing the crossbar at a level substantially above the frame. The bracket which holds this cross-bar may be disposed behind the saddle or yoke for holding the bight of the suction hose whereb the handle or cross-bar operates to insure that the hose will not become dislodged at the front part of the vehicle and lost in transit.

There are numerous other features of novelty in the pumper unit as a whole and in the construction of. the pump both as a pump and as a part of the present unit which will be more apparent from the detailed description and claims hereinafter appearing.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and operating a device embodying my invention, I shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of the present application a specific and preferred embodiment of my present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view as seen by the eye;

Figure 2 is a left side elevation of the unit;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the chassis frame; Figure 4 is aleft side elevation of the same; Figure 5 is a right side elevation of the motor pump unit shown in Figures 1 and 2 with parts shown in section;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section viewed from the right and taken through the bell bracket and pump head member between the engine and the pump;

Figure '7 is a vertical cross section taken on the broken section line 1-1 of Figure 5 showing the internal construction of the pump;

Figure 8 is a development of the main throat of the pump;

Figure 9 is a similar development of the auxiliary throat of the pump, these two latter figures being diagrammatic;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9 to show the opening of the main discharge passageway into the separator;

Figure 11 is a vertical section of the right hand fender, as viewed from Figure 1, showing how it is secured to the chassis frame;

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the fender supporting bracket;

Figure 13 is a vertical section of the chassis frame as taken along the lines |3l3 of Figure 3;

Figure 14 is a vertical cross section of a chassis cross bar as taken along the lines [4-44 of Figure 13; and

Figure 15 is another vertical section of the chassis frame as taken along the line l5-l5 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the mobile pumper shown in Figures 1 and 2, the chassis frame I carrying the motor pump unit 2 and various accessories, is slightly overbalanced forwardly of the axle 3. Hence, when the pumper is standing is disconnected from the hauling vehicle the chassis frame I requires support as by the retractible standard 5 under the tongue 4 in addition to the main support secured by the axle 3 and the rubber tired road wheels 6, 6, which are mounted freely rotatable on the spindles at the ends of the axle 3. The axle 3 has a central drop portion, as indicated at 3 in Figure 2, and the spindles on which the spindles on which the wheels 6 are mounted are connected to the chassis frame I through the medium of semi-elliptical springs I, I, which are secured to the channel bar side sills 8, 8 through the medium of the forward spring perch brackets perch brackets l2. l2 (see Figures 3 and 4).

The sidesills B, 8 of the chassis frame (see Figures 3 and 4) are extended convergently forward at the portions l3, l3 and joined by short cross members [4 to form the tongue 4 heretofore mentioned. A bracket 15, whichbracket is preferably formed of a piece of angle-iron, is welded'or otherwise fastened to the cross piece I at the forward end of-the tongue, and upon this bracket l5 there are bolted the yoke or saddle member l6 providing a U-shaped bracket forming a .seat for the suction hose, as will be described later, and the stationary frame portion ll of the detachable bumper hitch Ill. The hitch l8 may be of any conventional or preferred form, and comprises in the present instance a universal joint portion IS, a clamping frame 20 having a stationary upper jaw 22 and a movable lower jaw 23 which movable jaw may be moved by means of a screw member 24, and the hand wheel 25. Additionally, the bracket l5 has attached thereto a hitch chain 26 provided with a snap hook 21, this chain being adapted to be slung around the bumper and the hook 21 hooked back in the links of the chain so as to insure coupling of the pumper to the bumper of the automobile to which the hitch I8 is intended to be con-' nected. The chain is a safety feature. Two such chains may be provided. On the rear side of the cross member Hi there is provided a pipe bracket 28 for receiving the standard or leg 5 which has the pedestal or foot member 29 at its lower end. A pin 30 on the shaft of the standard having a'handle 35 for clamping a shoe held in the slot 36 inside of the bracket 28, said shoe being pressed by the clamping screw against the shank 5 of the standard, to clamp the same in adjusted position. On the forward ends of the I converging side frame members l3,

l3 are mounted inverted U-shaped brackets 31, 31. A

tubular cross-bar 38 is provided with studs which clamp the cross bar to the tops of the brackets 31, 31 so as to provide suitable handles for hand manipulation of the mobile pumper upon its wheels. The chassis frame at its rear end has a cross member 88 lying in the plane of the side sills8, 8 and welded to the ends thereof. The cross bar 38 is a piece of channel member as are the side sills 8, 8, the converging parts l3, l3 and the front cross bar I 4. The rear cross bar 39 is provided with openings 40, 48 through which the discharge hose box 42 is bolted to 'the chassis frame. At the forward end of the parallel side sills 8, a front cross bar 43 of channel cross section is suspended from and immediately below the main frame by means of gusset plates 44, 44 which are welded to the inside of the channels of the side frame members 8 and to the flat side of the web of the cross bar 43, as is more clearly shown in Figure 13. Thereby the cross bar 43 is suspended below'and welded to the side frame members 8, 8 and to their extensions l3, l3. A second cross bar 45, similarly made of channel bar is suspended by sset plates 46, 46 from the sills 8, 8, as will more clearly appear in Figure 15. These parts are welded. in I place.

A pair of battery brackets 41, 41 are welded to the cross bars 43 and 45 and extend toward each other. Preferably a wooden plate or board is bolted to these brackets 41, 47, such a board being indicated at 48 in Figure 2. The cross members 43 and 45 are connected together by a brace 49 which is formed of channel bar, and is welded to the bottom flanges of the bars 43 and 45 in the median longitudinal plane of the frame. In the specific embodiment. shown wherein the engine is a four-cylinder air cooled engine, of known type, the brace 49 forms the support for the front end, that is the flywheel end of the engine through the medium of a supportingplate 50, a spacer block Hand 8. bolt 53, such details being shown more clearly in Figure 5. The plate 50 is bolted to the flanges of a cross channel member 54 which is a permanent part A of the engine.

The right hand side sill shown atthe top of Figure 3 has a bracket 55 for supporting auxiliary apparatus, such as a fire ax. The front cross member has holes 56 for bolting thereto a crank bracket 51 shown in Figure 5 and a filler wardly extending foot 59 of the said crank bracket. The crank bracket 51 supports the hand crank 60 in convenient position to be applied to the flywheel of the engine for hand cranking the same. This crank 60 is disposed between the converging frame portion l3, space being here .provided for operation of the crank to start the engine by hand. When the engine pump unit is made removable from the chassis, the crank bracket and crank are carried on the crank case Of the engine.

The cross member 45 has holes 62, 62 formed through the top flange for receiving bolts to which the feet 63, 63 of the bell bracket 64 are connected. The bell bracket 64 rigidly connects the crank case of the engine, and the frame of the or less resilient through. the supporting plate 86 at the front and a fairly solid two-point mounting on the cross member 45 of the sub-frame. The sub-frame comprises the cross members 43 and 45 and the connection brace 48 all slung below the main frame.

A transverse member 65 in the form of an angle-bar with the vertical flange thereof engaging and welded to the bottom flange of the side sills 8, 8 provides a horizontal ledge 66 upon which the discharge hose box seats and is supported. The ends of the angle-iron cross bar 65 are welded to blocks 61 and these in turn are welded to thebottom of the sill members 8, .8

whereby the said cross member 65 is suspended below the plane of the sills 8, 8. An angle-shaped bracket 68 is clamped to the vertical flange 68 of the angle bar cross member 65 and this supporting bracket 68 has bolt holes l8, It for engaging and clamping to the foot 12 of the main pump body, as is shown in detail in Figure 5. Supporting plates l3, 13 are welded to and span the tops of the cross members 45 and 65 to provide support for a tool box 14 and for the hand flre extinguisher 15 which are suitably clamped to the respective plates 13, I3.

The wheels 6, 6 are provided with arched and crowned fenders, the detailed mounting of which is shown in Figure 11. The fender is provided with a skirt 1'! which is generally semicircular in outline, and this skirt is welded to the margin of the channel shaped crown of the fender. Along the lower inner edge of the skirt 11 is an angle bar 18 with its vertical leg pinned or spot welded to and disposed across the lower edge of the skirt and adjacent flange of the crown, and its horizontal leg clamped at the end to the front and rear spring perch brackets 9 and I2, respectively, suitable holes 19 and 80, respectively, being provided on thesespring perches for holding of the horizontal leg of-the 7 hole for receiving a bolt for clamping the upper part of the fender and its skirt to the said bracket 82. At its lower end, the bracket 82 is welded in v place to a short section of angle-bar 86 shown in Figures 11 and 12, which section of angle-bar 86 is in turn welded to the outside and upper edge of the side sill member 8. Additionally, the rear portions of the skirt and flange of the fenders lie against the adjacent edge of the rear hose box 42 and bolts extend through adjacent walls of the rear hose box 42 and the fender skirts for securing the fenders to the hose box 42. The bracket 82 has leather or other flexible straps 81, 81 fastened thereto, as by means of rivets passing through the holes 88 and 89 for strapping the ends of the hose securely in brackets 82. Likewise straps 81 are connected to the ends of the U-shaped bracket l6 of the front of the tongue of the frame for securely holding the holes in place. The top length of section hose 83 is provided with a strainer 90, and the opposite end of the hose is provided with a coupling 92 by which it may be .connected to the second length of hose 83, or

automotive practice for passenger cars.

pump .later to be described. It will be observed that the suction hose is bent into U-shape, dropped into the front saddle I6, and into the side saddles or brackets 82, and strapped in place, and it is then securely held, and even if the strap should break, the disposition of the hose in the front saddle I6 under the handle bars 39 renders it quite unlikely that the hose will be dislodged, for it is necessary to raise a free end of the hose out from behind the wheel fender 16 and thence from under the handle bar 38 before the hose can be taken outof the front saddle I6. This is a feature of safety which is highly desirable, for obviously the loss of the suction hose in transit would be intolerable. The discharge hose box 42 has an upper main portion 93 extending out beyond the sides and end of the chassis frame and it has a well portion 94 extending down through and within the frame. Thus a maximum of space is provided. The hose box preferably provides room for about 500 feet of standard 1 inch discharge hose or a less amount of 2 inch hose, and the hose is arranged therein for maximum convenience in running out the same. The free end which bears the nozzle 95 is coiled in a double reverse coil 90, so that this length of hose may be run out without twisting, and the first length is coupled to the next length 91 by the coupling 98 shown in Figure l,'the second length being folded back and forth, and paying out of the rear end of the hose box, so that twisting of the hose is avoided and the next available joint readily convenient. The hose box is covered by a canvas or waterproof fabric cover, which is fastened to the rear edge of the box 42 and it may be rolled back as shown at I in Figure 1. When in place over the top of the hose box 42. the cover 99 is held in place by straps I02 and buckles I03, suitably hooked into eyes on the rear of the hose box.

The motor pump unit 2 comprises an aircooled four cylinder high speed motor. I04 directly connected to a self-priming centrifugal pump I mounted as aforesaid on the chassis frame within and below the top level of the chassis frame. The clearance between the sub-frame and the ground is substantially the same as that of the axle 3' and is comparable to that prevailing in It is to be observed that it is within my invention to mount the engine pump unit as a removable unit upon the'chassis frame where that is desired, since it is within the convenient capability of two men to lift and transport the same through the provision of suitable handles, as described in my copending application, Serial No. 293,227, filed September 2, 1939. The engine I04 has a flywheel cage I06, the cage constituting also a blower for air cooling the engine cylinders and heads. At its opposite or rear end, the engine crank case, which is concealed by the protected casing, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, has a boss I01 through which a crank shaft I09 extends, the said crank case being provided with threaded sockets for receivin the studs I09. These studs I09 pass through a ring IIO formed on the rearend of a bell'bracket 64, and by a ring of these studs I09 the said bell bracket is securely clamped to the engine frame or crank case.

At its opposite end, the bell bracket 64 has a cylindrical plug-like portion II2 which fits the cylindrical bore II3 of the main pump body casting H4. The plug-like member II2 terminates in the flat annular wall II5 which forms the back plate of the impeller chamber of the pump. The

clamping flange H6 is clamped by means of the studs I I1 to the fiat face of the flange II8 which projects outwardly around the bore I I3. A suitable gasket is interposed to make a fluid tight 'joint. The back plate I I5 has an integral boss or hub II9 which is bored to pass the shaft I20 of the impeller I22 and counterbored to form a packing gland recess for receiving-the packing I23. The impeller shaft I20 is axially bored to receive the holding bolt I24 which is threaded into the adjacent reduced end I25 of the engine crank shaft I08. The bolt I24 is covered by a tapered plug. The two shafts are keyed together by a'Woodrufi key or equivalent means, as indiwall I26 which forms a transverse diaphragm suitably braced as by the Webs I21 to receive the thrust of the threaded spring barrel or sleeve I28 which is threadedin a central opening formed in the diaphragm I26. This spring barrel I28 has an inwardly extending flange I29 for receiving the recoil 'of the compression spring I30. The other end of the spring I30 bears against the auxiliary gland follower I32 which bears against the packing I33 disposed in a gland recess formed in the main follower I34 which in turn bears against the packing I23 in the hub H9. The main gland follower I34 is hollowed out centrally to receive grease through the tube I36 from the grease cup I31 which in Figure 6 is shown substantially in the plane of the paper whereas it would occupy a position substantially thereto inpractice. The bell bracket 64 has openings at the sides for rendering the packing gland readily accessible. This packing gland construction is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 385,888, filed March 29, 1941, and need not here be elaborated upon as reference is made to the aforesaid copending application for a full description of the same. Suflice it to say that the spring barrel I28 has a head I35 provided with suitable surfaces by which it may be engaged by a wrench or other suitable tool for turning it upon its threads. The auxiliary follower I32 has a groove which registers with an opening in the head I35, so that the threaded sleeve I29 may be run to the right, as viewed in Figure 6, with the follower I32 pinned to the sleeve as by a pin inserted through the hole in the head I35 and into the groove in the follower I32 to permit the sleeve and follower I32 to be retracted to the right sufficiently to allow repacking of the fibrous packings I33 and I23. It is to be observed that the sleeve forms the back stop for preventing blowing out of the main packing I 23 in the event that the pump should receive its liquid supply under pressure as when the suction connection is coupled to a fire hydrant or the like.

The plug-like extension 2 of the bell bracket I64 serves both as a pilot for bringing the pump body H4 and said bell bracket into register, and it serves as additional supporting means for taking the shear load off of the studs II! by which the two parts are clamped together. The space within which the impeller I22 rotates is termed the impeller chamber, the casing thereof being formed by the back plat II5, the front plate I38 and the peripheral wall, which defines the bore I I3. The front plate of the impeller casing has a central intake opening I39 which opens into the bottom of a chamber I40 in the casting ,,399 t. it II4, this chamber I40 constituting the intake trap of the pump. The impeller I22 which is shown in end view. in Figure 7 preferably has straight blades which sweep the channel in which the impeller runs, with substantially no more than mechanical clearance.

The main pump body casting III is somewhat barrel shaped,.having a front wall of double convex shape as indicated at I42 in Figure 5 and a similarly double convex shaped back. wall I43.

\ The hollow space of the main body casting II4 is divided by. a wall which consists of an upper;

horizontal flat wall I44, a lower horizontal cylinf' drical wall I45 and a fiat vertical wall I 46 Join;

ing the two walls I44 and I45 at their inner ends. 'f This divides the space in the hollow casting II4 above the impeller casing, and communicates therewith through a main discharge passageway I48 and throat I49, and communicates additionally through an auxiliary discharge passageway I50 and a corresponding throat I52.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic development of the main passageway and its restricted throat I49.

' Likewise, Figure v9 is a diagrammatic development of the auxiliary discharge passageway I50 and its throat I52. The particular construction and.

arrangement of these throats in a pump of this character is described and claimed in my copending application .Serial No. 289,757, filed August 12, 1939, to which reference for a full description is here made. 'It will be observed that the throat I49 lies in such position that the passageway I48 leading therefrom is substantially a tangential passageway for the discharge tangentially' of liquid by the impeller I22 and at its upper end the wall defining the discharge passageway I48 runs substantially tangent to the curved surface of wall I53 of the drumlike separator portion of the separator chamber I41, That is to say, the main vertically extending part of the separator chamber I41 is provided with a substantially cylindrical wall, the axis of rotation of which cylindrical wall is substantially horizontal. Communicating withthis drumlike portion is the forwardly extending portion 141a of the said separator M1, as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 7.

The auxiliary discharge passageway I50 which serves as a priming passageway for the return of liquid to be mixed with air in the impeller chamber during the priming operation of the top of the impeller chamber and the bottom of the separator chamber I41. An overhanging wall or hood I55 protects the pump from losing its vacuum by air striking down through the passageway I50 during priming. The overhang of the hood I55 is such that the movement of liquid into the passageway I50- is substantially horizontal, and there is not the tendency for a'whirlpool to suck air down through the center and thus break the prime, as would be. the case if the passageway I50 opened in a vertical direction. The hood I55 may be extended to a greater or less degree sufliciently to secure the desired acpump communicates between substantially the Qliquid is an be brought out of register with stream of mixture will have a maxim and driven 5 over e g w, trapped with is re 'uii-ed to iis at of the stream out of the plane' r, h and the auxiliary dischar'g'e'thro 50.; In; b the return loop of liquid coating own tow] the bottom of the separator ch mbe Alt ii'ds plane'o "t discharge passageways into the region or the reference numeral I45 in Figure 5;" so"ha p tunity to free itself of the entrained gas, air, both in the whirling centrifugal separat efiected by discharge of the stream along, cylindrical wall, and by gravity separation the pool which is maintained in the bottom Y the separator space M1. In Figure 10, the channel in which the tips of the blades of the impeller I22 run is indicated by the dotted lines I54, and

it will be seen that the main throat I49 is nar rower than the channel width. Likewise, the throat I52 is narrower than the channel width for the purposes of maximum efliciency of discharge of liquid during liquid pumping, as described in my copending application above referred to.

The forwardly extending or offset portion I41a of the separator chamber allows the gas freed in the disentraining operation in the separator to pass upwardly through the discharge elbow fitting I51, and then out if the said' fitting is open to atmosphere. Preferably an air vent which". closes when water strikes'it, and which may be in the form of a well known airvent valve such as is employed on steam radiators, permits the escape of the disentrained air to atmosphere',"s"" long as liquid does not fill the discharge chamber or separator I41. Another efiective niethod o'f disposing of the disentrained air is to l-provide a small constantly open tube, such as"a"copper tube indicated at I58 in Figures 1 and "5'. This tube may-be constantly open,.and be directedru' down upon the ground. ,Due to the length of; tubing and the small bore, suificient frictionisw introduced to the flow of liquid that the loss oft liquid is inappreciable, whereas the tube oiTer's' no substantial resistance to the flow of the air which is discharged during the priming operation.

This air vent may be connected to theelbow:

vides in taking the air vent out of the region of rapidly moving water during the priming operation. The discharge stream from the passageway I48 arches hugging the cylindrical wall I53, and if the air vent is not placed out of the region of liquid flow, it tends to discharge liquid during priming which is undesirable.

. A filling cock I59 may be disposed at the top of the main pump casting for the introduction 'of the charge of priming liquid. A pressure gauge I60 is connected to the top of the discharge chamber or separator I41 in position below the elbow fitting I51, and the gasoline tank I62, so that the said pressure gauge which is relatively fragile is not likely to be injured by the hose or objects which might brush across the top of the device. The discharge elbow I51 which is bolted to the top of the casting H4 is connected by a coupling I64 to a valved twin hose connection I65. This is a Y-shaped fitting having a shutoff valve disposed in each branch, so that each branch may be separately opened or closed. Protecting caps I61 suitably tethered by chains I69 are provided for each of the branch connections, said branch connections being provided with standard threads for the coupling of discharge hose.

The intake to the pump is through a suction COnIlGCtlOnwlBQ shown in Figure 5. This comprises a cylindrical fitting having a clamping flange I'I0 for clamping the same in the opening I12 formed in themain body casting H4 at the top of the vertical leg of the intake trap I40. The inner end of the intake fitting I69 comprises a strainer I13 for catching any solid matter which would not readily pass through the pump. The outer end of the fitting I69 comprises a threaded nipple which is adapted to receive a standard hose coupling, such as 92, shown in Figure l. The said nipple, when the pump is not in operation, is closed by the threaded cap I14 which performs the function not only of protecting the threads of the said nipple, but more particularly of preventing loss of liquid from the intake trap during transport of the pump. It is necessary that the pump have associated therewith the proper operating charge for producing suction; otherwise it is unable to raise liquid from the lower level.

The operation of the pump as a self-priming pump is as follows: The pump has a priming charge associated therewith. This normally consists of water trapped in the hollow pump body and impeller chamber below the bottom level of the intake connection I69. The intake trap is designed to retain a part of the liquid being pumped when the pump stops. In cold weather, the trapped water is drained out through the pet cock I11, and a tank of water with an adequate amount of anti-freeze material therein is either carried with the pump or the pump maybe filled with a charge of water solution containing anti-.

freeze. When it is desired to put the mobile pumper to use, the unit, with full equipment as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is hitched to the rear bumper of an automobile. This may be done by manually raising the tongue of the unit and pulling it to the automobile or, alternatively, the automobile may be backed up to the unit, and the jaws 22, 23 clamped upon the bumper. Usually it is. necessary to raise the tongue slightly from the position shown in Figure 2 in order to register the jaws with the bumper of the automobile. The chain or chains 26 with the snap hooks 21 are slung around the bumper and hooked back to provide a safety connection for hitching the trailer bumper to the automobile. The standard 5 is then raised, and clamped in raised position. The operator checks over the equipment to see that everything is in place; the suction hose 83,,the fire axe I60, the chemical extinguisher I3, and the necessary tools in the tool box I4. The pumper is then hauled to the place of use, and it may be disconnected from'the rear bumper of the automobile and moved by hand to the desired place, or preferably it is left hitched to the bumper, and the standard 5 is dropped to a suitable level. Thereupor; the operator may, if desired, start the engine in order to warm up the same. This may be accomplished either through the of a harm. crank 50 or preferably by an electric starter, a battery being carried at I82 in the battery box forward of the axle. Assume that the engine is now started. It idles, turning over the impeller I22 of the pump to warm up the engine. While al1 of the operations may be performed by one man, it will facilitate getting into operation to have several available. The canvas or other flexible cover 99 is released and rolled back into the position shown in Figure 1. The straps 81, 81 are loosened to release the suction hose 83. The top'length of hose carrying the strainer is first released by lifting one end, for example the strainer end,

from behind the fender 16, unfolding the hose out from under the cross bar 38 and out of the front saddle or bracketl6, whereupon the hose is freed, and if a single length suflices, the coupling 92 may be attached to the suction fitting I69, the cap I14 whichserves to prevent the loss of liquid during transport of the vehicle being removed. If more than one suction length is necessary, the additional length 83 is coupled to thesuction fitting I69 and then the terminal length 83 with the strainer is coupled up, and the strainer dropped into the water of the source. Th engine may now be speeded up in order to draw the air out of the suction line, and to prime the pump while the discharge hose is being coupled. Obviously, the engine may be started up after all the connections are made or at any intermediate stage. The priming charge will not be lost for the reason that the discharge shutoff valves I66 are closed during the operation of making the unit ready to throw water. The discharge hose, of which there may be suflicient length to run one long or two shorter lines, or if onl a single fitting and single length of hose is to be employed, is coupled to the discharge fitting I65, the cap or caps I61 being unscrewed and removed. The hose, which is run out from the coil 96 and then from the box 42 to the proper length, is uncoupled .at the nearest coupling in the continuous run of coupled length of hose, and the said coupling then attached to the discharge connection I65. Thereupon, as soonasthe pump has produced the desired pressure, as shown on the gauge I60, the shutofi valve I66 is opened and by means of the hose and nozzle water may be thrown upon the fire. The indication of the gauge I60 is desirable in that it shows by sudden rise of pressure that the pump has primed and is ready to discharge'water. This is true even with closed cutoff valves I66, since air pressure will not accumulate.

The engine I04 is designed to operate the impeller at a relatively high speed, preferably under a suitable automatic governor control. As an example, the engine herein illustrated is designed to operate at full load at a speed around 2800-3000 R. P. M. The pump is designed for operation at that speed, and within any practical suction limit. to discharge 150 or moregallons: per minute at approximately 100. pounds pressure at the pump.

When the impeller is first started up, liquid is drawn from the intake trap I40 through the intake passageway I34 at the center of the impeller, and discharged out both discharge passageways I48 and I50 into the separator. However, the impeller having discharged liquid is unable to keep the same from running back and very quickly an orderly recirculation of liquid,

returning through the passageway I50 and being mixed with air in the impeller chamber and discharged through the main discharge passageway I48 sets up the orderly evacuation of air from the intake side of the pump and the discharge of the same through the separator. As

liquid from the bottom of the separator returns into the top of the impeller I22, the liquid is churned up with air and discharged as a mixture out the throat I49 and passageway I48 substantially tangentially of the circular wall I53. As the end wall I43 forms a deflector, the return stream of liquid which is already partly freed of air will be thrown out of the plane of the impeller and the discharge passageways I48 and I50 over the left as shown in Figure 5 in substantial registry with the part indicated at the reference numeral I45 and out of register with the hood I55 which faces against the stream of the liquid discharged through the passageway I48. The stream of mixture is guided in a generally helical path. Air tends to be forced out by the inertia effect or centrifugal effect of the liquid which tends by its density to move to the outermost layers, forcing the gas inwardly and freeing the same by centrifugal stratification. Likewise, the body of liquid has a free surface in the separator space I41 where gas is freed by gravity and it escapes through the discharge elbow connection I51 and out of the vent I58. As heretofore explained, an air valve connected with the top of the separator chamber I41 may be located at any convenient place, but'the vent I58 as shown is connected to the discharge elbow connection I5! Where air tends to accumulate and the discharge of air is not obstructed by liquid. The specific location of the air vent is otherwise not critical. A suitable connection is indicated at I84 in Figure 7 in line with the filler cock I59 which is mounted in a threaded socket I83.

Since the valves-I66 are closed, unless provisionwere made for evacuating the air which is pumped outof the suction pipe, the speed priming would be greatly reduced, and priming might-even be prevented. Furthermore, the shutoff valves 165 are desirably closed during the time that the discharge hose is being con- -necte'd, in order that the pump may be running to prime itself while'the discharge hos'e 'is being connected, and'thus reduce the" amount of time required to'put the unitjintooperationjtlmt the and'to facilitate make priming liquid be not lost ln'g'the hose connections.

*Thepump-is simpleto service The" suction hose may easily be uncoupled and replacedfin the mounting provided "therefor; "Ifhe strainer? I13 may readily be cleaned The packing gland is simple and effective and may easilyjbe lubricated and serviced; The unit is designed" for operation'and upkeepbyfamateur 'firemen.

It will be observed thatl'the center or gravity of the trailer unit is relatively low for sake of stability, and when allof the equipment is loaded ready fortransport, the center of gravity is slightly forward of the axle for ease and safety in hauling either by power vehicle or by hand, and when the discharge and suction hose are unloaded, the center of gravity is shifted forward further, to insure stability of the unit while piunping liquid. The center of gravity of the loaded unit is substantially no higher than that of a standard commercial automobile.

I do not intend to be limited to the details shown anddescribed, but intend to include such equivalents as are known to those skilled in the art and are permitted within the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a motor fire pump, a direct'connected motor pump unit comprising a multi-cyl inder engine having a crank case with a crankshaft, a self-priming centrifugal pump with an impeller casing and an impeller shaft fixed to the end of the crankshaft, said pump comprising a main unitary body having an intake trap, and a separator'formed therein, and comprising a front plate for the impeller casing, a bell bracket having an integral back plate for the impeller casing, and a. coupling flange for connecting the same to the main pump body, and having a mounting flange clamped to the crank case.

2. The unit of claim 1 having a fuel tank mounted on the engine between the engine and the pump over the bell bracket.

3. The unit of claim 1 wherein the separator portion of the main pump'body carries a dis charge elbow at its upper end, said elbow having shutoff valve means, a fuel tank mounted on the rear end of the engine above the bell bracket, and a pressure gauge at the top of the separator between the discharge elbow and the fuel tank.

4. A self-priming pump comprising a main body casting and a back plate member, said main body casting comprising a generally cylindrical barrel portion having an integral front plate with a central inlet opening for definingan im--' peller chamber,-a separate bell bracket and back plate member extending into said barrel portion and formingf'a closure for the impeller chamber, an impeller in the chamber and a shaft therefor extending through the back plate member, said body casting havingwalls defining a rear circular passageway through which liqu'idgretjurnsrfrom the Iii) chamberQinto-substan ally the bottom :p

wardly x en a -df sct a separatorto the-impellen'chamber during priming. and. through, which liquid isdischarged zfrom-:the impeller chaml) e'r during 1 Iiquidpumping'; said second passageway; openin romwthei impeller v f he. rlr ml kapqrt cn -The v o e la m ia sageways, lie, in substantiall th the drumlike port on, of; the. ep

comprising walls defining an impeller chamber having a central inlet and a pair of peripheral discharge passageways, namely, a main passageway and an adjacent auxiliary passageway lying in substantially the same plane, walls defining a separator having a drumlike portion, the main discharge passageway opening generally tangentially from the impeller chamber along the curved wall of the drumlike portion whereby during priming the discharge stream of mixture tends to follow the curved walls of the drum in an arched pathway, the walls of said drumlike portion comprising a head member against which the said stream of mixture is adapted. to react to throw the same out of register with the auxiliary discharge passageway.

'7. The pump body of claim 6 further characterized by the auxiliary discharge passageway opening into said drumlike portion at substantially its lowest level and the walls of said auxiliary passageway comprising a hood extending substantially horizontally to prevent air striking down through said auxiliary passageway.

8. The pump body of claim 6 further characterized by the separator chamber having walls pro-' viding an offset portion extending forwardly from the drurnlike portion, and walls defining an intake trap of approximately the full width of the separatorchamber disposed below said forwardlyextending portion and opening at its lower end into said central inlet of the impeller chamber and having an opening for a suction connection'in its front face near its upper end.

9. A pump comprising a main body casting comprising a hollow oblong body with its major axis vertically and having a main front wall and a main back wall, internal walls comprising an upper horizontally extending wall joining the upper part of the main front wall, a lower horizontally extending wall forming the lower part of the back wall and a vertically extending internal wall joining said horizontally extending walls, said internal wallsdividing the main part of the body casting into two elbow shaped chambers, he upper chamber being a separator and the "wer chamber being an intake trap, said casting a o comprising walls defining a circular impeller chamber below the vertical leg of the elbow shaped separator and having main and auxiliary passageways providing communication between the separator and the periphery of the impeller chamber, said impeller chamber having a central intake opening communicating with the horizontal arm of the intake trap, the horizontal arm of the separator having a discharge outlet connection and the vertical arm of the intake trap having an intake fitting. g

10. In a self priming centrifugal pump, a hollow pump body having main front and back vertical walls and having an internal wall extending horizontally, then down vertically and again horizontally at a lower level to divide the hollow body into two elbow shaped chambers, name 1y, an intake trap and a separator above the trap, said trap having a vertical legunder said first horizontal run of the internal wall and an opening near the top of said vertical leg, and a combined strainer and intake fitting for said opening, said fitting compris'ing'a flange for attachment to the wall about the opening, a perforated tubu-' lar' extension projecting horizontally into the top of the separator, and a threaded nipple for connection of a suction hose extending forwardly from the flange.

11. The combination with claim 10 of a discharge fitting at the top of the separator, a valve for said discharge fitting for closing off the discharge of the pump, and'a cap for closing the intake fitting to prevent loss of liquid trapped in the pump. 4

12. The combination with claim 10 of an elbow shaped discharge fitting extending vertically from the top of the separator and having a shutoiT valve in its horizontal portion, and an air vent for venting air from the top of the separator when the said shutoff valve is closed to permit the pump to prime.

13. An integral unitary hollow pump body casting'for a centrifugal pump comprising walls for enclosing functional chambers, said chambers comprising an impeller chamber of generally cylindrical form with a central inlet and peripheral discharge, an L-shaped inlet trap the lower end of which communicates through said inlet with the impeller chamber, and the upper end of which has a suction connection opening to the outside of the body casting, and a separator chamber of inverted L-shape with its lower end communicating with the impeller chamber through said peripheral discharge and the upper horizontal portion of said separator having a discharge connection opening to the outside of the body casting, there being an internal 2- shaped wall between and common to said trap and said separator.

14. The priming body of claim 13 wherein the vertical portion of the separator chamber is of approximately cylindrical shape with its axis horizontal and .the rear external wall of the body forms a head for said chamber, and wherein the peripheral discharge of the impeller chamber comprises a generally vertically directed throat opening into the separator adjacent said head, whereby the stream of fluid discharged through said throat opening is crowded axially by said head to cause it to move out of the vertical plane of the discharge throat.

15. In a pump of the class described, a pump body comprising an impeller casing having an impeller which substantially sweeps the inner peripheral wall of the casing, a separator comprising a substantially drum shaped chamber disposed above the impeller casing with its circular axis horizontal, a substantially tangential main discharge passageway extending upwardly from the side of the impeller casing in substantially the plane of the impeller, and substantially tangential to the inner sidewall of the separator chamber, a priming and secondary discharge passageway adjacent the main passageway open-- ing into the drum shaped separator chamber at substantially the bottom of the same, said latter passageway also lying in substantially the plane of the impeller, said separator chamber having an end wall adjacent the discharge path of liquid from the main discharge passageway, which wall is inclined upwardlytoward the plane of the main discharge passageway whereby-the stream of liquid issuing from the main discharge passageway and flowing on the curved wall of the separator is crowded in an axial direction out of the plane of the opening of the priming passageway in the chamber.

16. In a self-priming centrifugal pump, a pump body comprising'a generally drumlike impeller casing and a superposed generally drumlike separator casing, said casings having their axes of curvature substantially parallel and horizontal, the impeller casing having an impeller therein rotatable on a horizontal axis and having a subrator chamber, said drumlike separator casing having transverse wall lying closely adjacent the opening of the main discharge passageway whereby the stream of issuing liquid as it spreads out on'the circular arched wall is crowded by reaction against said transverse wall out of the plane of the opening of the priming passageway.

17. A bracket and backplate member comprising a cylindrical pluglike body forming a backplate for an impeller casing, and having a cylindrical surface for seating in said casing, and a clamping flange for clamping the member to the casing, a gland socket on said plug member, a. mounting ring at the opposite end of the bracket, walls extending between said ring and said plug to connect the same, a transverse web joined to said walls and disposed between said ring and said gland socket, said web having a central threaded opening for receiving a threaded gland follower sleeve.

HARRY E. LA BOUR. 

